Home opener closes in

The Fire is building up for Saturday's home opener vs. the San Jose Earthquakes with some off-ice appearances -- from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday at Fox Plaza, 205 N. Michigan; from 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday at ABC studios and from 6:30-7:30 a.m. on Friday at NBC. The Fire will also holds its Sueno MLS tryouts Saturday and Sunday at Montrose Park.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are preparing for the match with some notable personnel changes. After signing ex-Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch the 'Quakes picked up Trinidad & Tobago striker Scott Sealey and traded another striker, Quincy Amarikwa, to Colorado. Sealey had three goals and three assists in 14 matches with San Jose in 2008.
San Jose hasn't named its starting goalkeeper for Saturday, but Busch -- who started training with San Jose on Monday -- was signed to be Joe Cannon's backup. Cannon, though, has a sprained left wrist. The 'Quakes also kept third-string goalkeeper Andrew Weber, an indication coach Frank Yallop is still uncertain on his talent at that position.
The signing of Sealey required the 'Quakes to drop a player to stay at the MLS roster limit, and they could have parted with Weber instead of Amarikwa, a popular young player though one who would have had trouble finding playing time after Sealey's arrival.